Pubdate: Mon, 21 Nov 2005
Source: Minnesota Daily (MN Edu)
Copyright: 2005 Minnesota Daily
Contact:  http://www.mndaily.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1280
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DEALING WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE

It's a shame there is only one drug counselor on the  second-largest 
U.S. campus.

n an environment filled with intense pressures and  constant 
anxieties, alcohol and drug abuse is a  tempting reality for many 
college students.  Unfortunately, the University continues to employ 
only  one drug counselor to advise students. Currently, Mary 
Roske-Groth of Boynton Health Service is the only one  who answers to 
the counseling needs of students.

How can one person provide the necessary counseling for  such a large 
group? Not only is it an injustice to have  only one drug counselor, 
but it's also unfair to  overburden a single individual with the 
responsibility  of students dealing with this campus issue. The 
University is demonstrating that it has little or no  interest in the 
welfare of its students. Drug  counseling, which also involves 
alcohol abuse  counseling, is a positive method in dealing with 
the  issue of drug and alcohol abuse on campus. Instead of  busting 
parties and slapping students with fines, there  are other means of 
coping with the issue.

There is wisdom in providing students with a more  preventive, but 
also healthy and professional way of  combating the issues of 
substance abuse that the campus  community faces. Factors that 
contribute to drug abuse  are strongly applicable to the cases of 
many students,  among the cases are high stress and depression. 
Stress  and depression are very common among college students.  It 
should be expected that students will abuse drugs  and alcohol, not 
simply because they are young and feel  the need to experiment, but 
also because anxiety  clearly contributes to depression, which is 
closely linked with substance abuse. Students constantly have  to 
deal with the pressure of deadlines, exams and  financial situations. 
All that significantly contribute  to anxiety.

The University could continue to be a hotbed and  breeding ground for 
young binge drinkers and addicts,  or it could lead an active role in 
eradicating the  abuse of alcohol and drugs on this campus by 
investing  in the position of drug counseling on campus.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman